Effect

Generation I

Guillotine inflicts damage equal to the target's current HP. Its accuracy is 30%. Guillotine will break a substitute if it hits.

Guillotine will not affect a target whose current Speed stat is greater than the user's current Speed stat.

Generation II

The accuracy of Guillotine now follows the formula below.

Acc = ( ( user_level - target_level ) * 2/256 + 76/256 ) * 100%

This forumla means that the accuracy starts at approximately 30% and grows by approximately 0.78% for every level higher than the target that the user is.

Guillotine's efficacy is no longer based on the target's Speed; instead, now it cannot affect a target that has a higher level than the user.

Generations III to VI

The formula for Guillotine's accuracy is now:

Acc = ( ( user_level - target_level ) + 30 ) * 100%

Guillotine's chance of hitting is now unaffected by accuracy and evasion stats.

Guillotine can be used as part of a Pokémon Contest combination, with the user gaining two extra appeal points if the move Vice Grip was used in the prior turn. It is also part of a Contest Spectacular combination and will give three extra appeal points if one of the moves Lock-On, Mind Reader, or Miracle Eye was used in the prior turn.

Generation VII

Guillotine's accuracy is now displayed as 30%; however, its accuracy calculation remains unchanged.

Pawniard raises both of its claws into the air, then crosses them over its chest. Pawniard's claws then glow white for a moment, and when the glow fades, they turn light blue and extend greatly. Pawniard then jumps into the air and falls down at the opponent, landing on top of it with its claws first.

Trivia

The Axew and Pawniard evolutionary lines, as well as Kartana, can learn this move despite all six lacking pincers (which are necessary for the move, as indicated by the move description and Japanese name).